Meaning

सत्यं ज्ञानमनन्तं नित्यमनाकाशं परमाकाशं  

गोष्ठप्राङ्गणरिङ्खण-  

लोलमनायासं परमायासम्।  

मायाकल्पित-  

नानाकारमनाकारं भुवनाकारं  

क्ष्मामानाथमनाथं प्रणमत गोविन्दं परमानन्दम्।   

Govinda is the embodiment of eternal truth, infinite knowledge, and boundless space. He effortlessly moves through the courtyards of the cowherds, undertaking great tasks with ease. Though he manifests in various forms created by Maya (illusion), his true nature is formless and all-encompassing, being the support for the helpless. Bow down to Govinda, the supreme bliss. 

मृत्स्नामत्सीहेति यशोदाताडनशैशवसन्त्रासं  

व्यादितवक्त्रालोकित-  

लोकालोकचतुर्दशलोकालिम्।  

लोकत्रयपुरमूलस्तम्भं लोकालोकमनालोकं  

लोकेशं परमेशं प्रणमत गोविन्दं परमानन्दम्।   

This verse portrays the childhood of Govinda, where Yashoda, his mother, scolds and frightens him for eating mud. As he opens his mouth, she beholds the entire universe, revealing his divine nature. Govinda is the pillar of the three worlds, beyond sight, and the lord of the universe. Bow down to Govinda, the supreme bliss. 

त्रैविष्टपरिपुवीरघ्नं क्षितिभारघ्नं भवरोगघ्नं  

कैवल्यं नवनीताहारमनाहारं भुवानाहारम्।  

वैमल्यस्फुटचेतोवृत्ति-  

विशेषाभासमनाभासं  

शैवं केवलशान्तं प्रणमत गोविन्दं परमानन्दम्।   

Govinda is the destroyer of the enemies of the gods, the remover of the earth's burden, and the healer of the disease of worldly existence. He is the embodiment of liberation, enjoys butter, yet is self-sustained and the sustainer of the universe. His pure consciousness shines without any distortions. Bow down to Govinda, the supreme bliss. 

गोपालं प्रभुलीलाविग्रहगोपालं कुलगोपालं  

गोपीखेलनगोवर्धनधृति-  

लीलालालितगोपालम्।  

गोभिर्निगदितगोविन्द-  

स्फुटनामानं बहुनामानं  

गोधीगोचरदूरं प्रणमत गोविन्दं परमानन्दम्।   

Govinda, the protector of cows, is the playful embodiment of divine activities, the caretaker of the family, and the one who held up the Govardhana mountain. His names are chanted by the cows, and he is beyond the reach of worldly comprehension. Bow down to Govinda, the supreme bliss. 

गोपीमण्डलगोष्ठीभेदं भेदावस्थमभेदाभं  

शश्वद्गोखुरनिर्धूतोद्गत-  

धूलीधूसरसौभाग्यम्।  

श्रद्धाभक्तिगृहीतानन्द-  

मचिन्त्यं चिन्तितसद्भावं  

चिन्तामणिमहिमानं प्रणमत गोविन्दं परमानन्दम्।   

Govinda is the one who playfully mingles with the group of Gopis (cowherd women), maintaining unity despite apparent differences. He is always adorned with the dust raised by the hooves of cows, symbolizing his auspiciousness. He is incomprehensible, yet is the object of true devotion and faith. Bow down to Govinda, the supreme bliss. 

स्नानव्याकुलयोषिद्वस्त्र-  

मुपादायागमुपारूढं  

व्यादित्सन्तीरथ दिग्वस्त्रा दातुमुपाकर्षन्तं ताः।  

निर्धूतद्वशोकविमोहं बुद्धं बुद्धेरन्तःस्थं  

सत्तामात्रशरीरं प्रणमत गोविन्दं परमानन्दम्।   

Govinda, who mischievously takes away the clothes of the women bathing in the river, is also the one who dispels sorrow and delusion. He is the embodiment of pure consciousness and resides within the intellect. Bow down to Govinda, the supreme bliss. 

कान्तं कारणकारणमादिमनादिं कालघनाभासं  

कालिन्दीगतकालियशिरसि सुनृत्यन्तं मुहुरत्यन्तम्।  

कालं कालकलातीतं कलिताशेषं कलिदोषघ्नं  

कालत्रयगतिहेतुं प्रणमत गोविन्दं परमानन्दम्।   

Govinda is the beloved, the cause of all causes, without beginning or end, appearing as the dark cloud of time. He danced triumphantly on the hoods of the serpent Kaliya in the Yamuna river. He transcends time and is the destroyer of all impurities in the age of Kali. Bow down to Govinda, the supreme bliss. 

वृन्दावनभुवि वृन्दारकगणवृन्दाराधितवन्द्याया  

कुन्दाभामलमन्द-  

स्मेरसुधानन्दं सुमहानन्दम्।  

वन्द्याशेषमहामुनिमानस-  

वन्द्यानन्दपदद्वन्द्वं  

नन्द्याशेषगुणाब्धिं प्रणमत गोविन्दं परमानन्दम्।   

Govinda, who is worshipped by all the great sages and the groups of divine beings in Vrindavan, has a gentle, pure smile that radiates nectar-like bliss. He is the source of great joy and the ocean of infinite virtues. Bow down to Govinda, the supreme bliss. 

गोविन्दाष्टकमेतदधीते गोविन्दार्पितचेता यः  

गोविन्दाच्युत माधव विष्णो गोकुलनायक कृष्णेति।  

गोविन्दाङ्घ्रिसरोजध्यान-  

सुधाजलधौतसमस्ताघो  

गोविन्दं परमानन्दामृत-  

मन्तःस्थं स तमभ्येति।  

Whoever reads this Govindashtakam with a mind dedicated to Govinda, calling upon his names like Achyuta, Madhava, Vishnu, and Krishna, will have all their sins washed away by the nectar of meditation on Govinda's lotus feet. They will attain Govinda, the supreme bliss. 

Chanting the Govindashtakam allows the devotee to meditate on the various divine attributes and pastimes of Lord Govinda. This meditation purifies the mind, removing sins and bestowing inner peace, happiness, and ultimately, liberation. The regular recitation of this stotra helps in attaining Govinda's divine grace and the supreme bliss of eternal joy and spiritual fulfillment.

सत्यं ज्ञानमनन्तं नित्यमनाकाशं परमाकाशं
गोष्ठप्राङ्गणरिङ्खण-
लोलमनायासं परमायासम्।
मायाकल्पित-
नानाकारमनाकारं भुवनाकारं
क्ष्मामानाथमनाथं प्रणमत गोविन्दं परमानन्दम्।
मृत्स्नामत्सीहेति यशोदाताडनशैशवसन्त्रासं
व्यादितवक्त्रालोकित-
लोकालोकचतुर्दशलोकालिम्।
लोकत्रयपुरमूलस्तम्भं लोकालोकमनालोकं
लोकेशं परमेशं प्रणमत गोविन्दं परमानन्दम्।
त्रैविष्टपरिपुवीरघ्नं क्षितिभारघ्नं भवरोगघ्नं
कैवल्यं नवनीताहारमनाहारं भुवानाहारम्।
वैमल्यस्फुटचेतोवृत्ति-
विशेषाभासमनाभासं
शैवं केवलशान्तं प्रणमत गोविन्दं परमानन्दम्।
गोपालं प्रभुलीलाविग्रहगोपालं कुलगोपालं
गोपीखेलनगोवर्धनधृति-
लीलालालितगोपालम्।
गोभिर्निगदितगोविन्द-
स्फुटनामानं बहुनामानं
गोधीगोचरदूरं प्रणमत गोविन्दं परमानन्दम्।
गोपीमण्डलगोष्ठीभेदं भेदावस्थमभेदाभं
शश्वद्गोखुरनिर्धूतोद्गत-
धूलीधूसरसौभाग्यम्।
श्रद्धाभक्तिगृहीतानन्द-
मचिन्त्यं चिन्तितसद्भावं
चिन्तामणिमहिमानं प्रणमत गोविन्दं परमानन्दम्।
स्नानव्याकुलयोषिद्वस्त्र-
मुपादायागमुपारूढं
व्यादित्सन्तीरथ दिग्वस्त्रा दातुमुपाकर्षन्तं ताः।
निर्धूतद्वशोकविमोहं बुद्धं बुद्धेरन्तःस्थं
सत्तामात्रशरीरं प्रणमत गोविन्दं परमानन्दम्।
कान्तं कारणकारणमादिमनादिं कालघनाभासं
कालिन्दीगतकालियशिरसि सुनृत्यन्तं मुहुरत्यन्तम्।
कालं कालकलातीतं कलिताशेषं कलिदोषघ्नं
कालत्रयगतिहेतुं प्रणमत गोविन्दं परमानन्दम्।
वृन्दावनभुवि वृन्दारकगणवृन्दाराधितवन्द्याया
कुन्दाभामलमन्द-
स्मेरसुधानन्दं सुमहानन्दम्।
वन्द्याशेषमहामुनिमानस-
वन्द्यानन्दपदद्वन्द्वं
नन्द्याशेषगुणाब्धिं प्रणमत गोविन्दं परमानन्दम्।
गोविन्दाष्टकमेतदधीते गोविन्दार्पितचेता यः
गोविन्दाच्युत माधव विष्णो गोकुलनायक कृष्णेति।
गोविन्दाङ्घ्रिसरोजध्यान-
सुधाजलधौतसमस्ताघो
गोविन्दं परमानन्दामृत-
मन्तःस्थं स तमभ्येति। 

satyam jnyaanamanantam nityamanaakaasham paramaakaasham
gosht'hapraanganarinkhana-
lolamanaayaasam paramaayaasam.
maayaakalpita-
naanaakaaramanaakaaram bhuvanaakaaram
kshmaamaanaathamanaatham pranamata govindam paramaanandam.
mri'tsnaamatseeheti yashodaataad'anashaishavasantraasam
vyaaditavaktraalokita-
lokaalokachaturdashalokaalim.
lokatrayapuramoolastambham lokaalokamanaalokam
lokesham paramesham pranamata govindam paramaanandam.
traivisht'aparipuveeraghnam kshitibhaaraghnam bhavarogaghnam
kaivalyam navaneetaahaaramanaahaaram bhuvaanaahaaram.
vaimalyasphut'achetovri'tti-
visheshaabhaasamanaabhaasam
shaivam kevalashaantam pranamata govindam paramaanandam.
gopaalam prabhuleelaavigrahagopaalam kulagopaalam
gopeekhelanagovardhanadhri'ti-
leelaalaalitagopaalam.
gobhirnigaditagovinda-
sphut'anaamaanam bahunaamaanam
godheegocharadooram pranamata govindam paramaanandam.
gopeemand'alagosht'heebhedam bhedaavasthamabhedaabham
shashvadgokhuranirdhootodgata-
dhooleedhoosarasaubhaagyam.
shraddhaabhaktigri'heetaananda-
machintyam chintitasadbhaavam
chintaamanimahimaanam pranamata govindam paramaanandam.
snaanavyaakulayoshidvastra-
mupaadaayaagamupaarood'ham
vyaaditsanteeratha digvastraa daatumupaakarshantam taah'.
nirdhootadvashokavimoham buddham buddherantah'stham
sattaamaatrashareeram pranamata govindam paramaanandam.
kaantam kaaranakaaranamaadimanaadim kaalaghanaabhaasam
kaalindeegatakaaliyashirasi sunri'tyantam muhuratyantam.
kaalam kaalakalaateetam kalitaashesham kalidoshaghnam
kaalatrayagatihetum pranamata govindam paramaanandam.
vri'ndaavanabhuvi vri'ndaarakagana-
vri'ndaaraadhitavandyaayaa
kundaabhaamalamanda-
smerasudhaanandam sumahaanandam.
vandyaasheshamahaamunimaanasa-
vandyaanandapadadvandvam
nandyaasheshagunaabdhim pranamata govindam paramaanandam.
govindaasht'akametadadheete govindaarpitachetaa yah'
govindaachyuta maadhava vishno gokulanaayaka kri'shneti.
govindaanghrisarojadhyaana-
sudhaajaladhautasamastaagho
govindam paramaanandaamri'ta-
mantah'stham sa tamabhyeti.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi